Smoke-consumer.



J. H. HANLON.

SMOKE CONSUMER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.27, 1912.

1,070,25 1 Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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amen tom ewmmu John H b'iznlon w 1 @620? m JOHN H. HANLON, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SMOKE-CONSUMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

Application filed August 27, 1912. Serial No. 717,339.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN I-IANLoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Smoke-Consumers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in smoke consumers and has particular application to smoke consumers of that type wherein the smoke, gases and cinders are returned to the fire box under the action of a fluid such as steam.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a smoke consumer wherein the gases resulting from the burning fuel will be returned to the fire box of the furnace under the act-ion of the steam from the steam chest of the engine and wherein such gases may be returned to the fire box independently of the steam from the steam chest of the engine cylinders, as when the engine has stopped running.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a smoke consumer wherein the gases of combustion will be effectively mixed with air previous to entering the fire box of the furnace and wherein the air will be heated preparatory to commingling with the unburnt gases and entering the fire box.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive, parts being broken away showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of the invention. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the door.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, B indicates the boiler of a locomotive, F the fire box of the boiler furnace and S the smoke box, 'while E denotes the steam chest of the engine cylinders. Extending outwardly of the smoke box S is the usual smoke stack 8, and arranged Within the smoke box at an appropriate distance below the smoke stack is a bafile plate 1 constructed of foraminous material to prevent the passage of cinders through the stack. Leading from the smoke box S is a suction conduit 2 having the free end thereof in communication with the fire box F and establishing communication between the smoke and fire boxes. Surrounding the door openng of the fire box is a ring member 3 having an outwardly extending circumferential flange a connected to the adjacent wall of the fire box by means of bolts 5 or the like, and an inwardly extending flange 6, the ring like member and the adjacent wall of the fire box forming an annular chamber 7 into which the adjacent end of the suction conduit 2 leads. Passed through the ring like member 3 and extending into the door opening of the fire box is a tubular shell 8 having an attaching flange 9 suitably fastened to the adjacent portion of the flange 6 as by means of bolts 10. By means of this construction, it will be seen that the gases passing from the smoke box to the chamber 7 by Way of the suction pipe, are effectively mixed with the incoming air passing through the tubular shell 8, while the latter, being extended into the door opening, and surrounded by the chamber 7 is heated thereby heating the air previous to the same mixing with thegases and entering the fire box above the burning fuel therein, thus promoting and aiding combustion.

Hingedly connected to the front wall of the fire box in any suitable manner and adapted to be disposed in the path of the a1r passing through the tubular shell 8, is a door which, in the present instance, comprises an outer plate 5 of relatively large diameter and provided with a centrally arranged opening 6; and a plate 7 of small cross dimension as compared with that of the plate 5, the plate 7 being fastened to the plate 5 by means of bolts, rivets or the like 8 and spaced apart therefrom coaxial with the opening 6. Inthe closed position of the door, the plate 7 is disposed Within the tubular shell 8, while the marginal portion of the plate 6 abuts the walls of the door opening. Thus, it will be seen that the air will pass through the opening 6 and impinge upon the plate 7 previous to entering the tubular shell by Way of the space between the plates, thereby heating the air preparatory to the same entering the shell incident to the plate 7 being disposed within the tubular shell and Within the heat Zone of the fuel upon the grate of the fire box.

circumferential Y Leading from the steam chest E of the engine cylinders is a conduit 11 extending into the suction conduit 2 and designed to discharge the live steam from the chest into sun-h conduit whereby a suction or ejector action may be set up in the conduit to draw the smoke, cinders and other gases from the smoke box to the fire box. Thus, it will be seen that as long as the engine is taking steam, a suction will be produced in the suction conduit and the gases effectively consumed or burned.

In order to roduce a vacuum or ejector action in the suction conduit so that the smoke will be forced from the smoke box into the fire box of the furnace, when the en gine is not operating, a pipe 12 leads from the steam dome of the boiler and connects with the pipe 11 and is cont-rolled from the engine cab by means of a valve 13. By means of this construction, itwill be seen that the smoke consumer may operate irrespective of the operation of the engine. A check valve lt or other form of cut off is placed in the pipe 11 and operates automatically to cut off communication between the exhaust port of the engine and the suction conduit, when the smoke consumer is operating under the action of the steam from the boiler.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent.

It will be seen that I have provided a smoke consumer which, when in use, will operate efficiently and effectively for its intended purpose and whereby the air is heated preparatory to commingling with the gases or products of combustion thereby enabling the gases to be readily consumed by the burning fuel.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction herein. described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention, for instance the ring member and shell may be formed integral with each other if such is desired.

I claim:

1. The combination with a boiler, a smoke box and a fire box therefor, of a smoke consumer comprising a suction conduit connecting said smoke and fire boxes, means for producing a suction in said conduit to return the gases from the smoke to the fire box, a ring member surrounding the door opening of said fire box and formed with an outwardly extending flange connected to the adjacent wall of the door opening and an inwardly extending flange connected to the adjacent end of said conduit, and a tubular shell passed through said ring member and secured to said inwardly projecting flange and extending inwardly of the door opening whereby air may be drawn into the fire box, said ring member and the adjacent wall of the fire box form ing an annular chamber around said shell substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.

2. The combination with a boiler, a smoke box and a fire box therefor, of a smoke consumer comprising a suction conduit connecting said. smoke and fire boxes, means for producing a suction in said conduit to return the gases from the smoke to the fire box, a ring member surrounding the door opening of said fire box and formed with an outwardly extending flange connected to the adjacent wall of the door opening and an inwardly extending flange connected to the adjacent end of said conduit, a tubular shell passed through said ring member and secured to said inwardly projecting flange and extending inwardly of the door opening whereby air may be drawn into the fire box, said ring member and the adjacent wall of the fire box forming an annular chamber around said shell, and a door pivoted to said ring member for closing said tubular shell.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. HANLON.

\Vitnesses SAMUELL. BAILEN, Jonx H. l/V. Cuxoox.

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